Each year in July the CRC Australian International Missions Team (AIMT) calls for a Day of Prayer and Fasting where we ask CRC Churches around the world to join in and focus on missions. The AIMT sets out a number of prayer requests and also announces a CRC missions project that together as CRC Churches we can achieve.
The AIMT also encourages CRC Churches to hold a special Sunday Service the week following the day of prayer and fasting where the CRC church can receive an offering and contribute to a joint CRC missions project.
Below is an overview of the prayer requests from our National Days of Prayer and Fasting, and some of the projects achieved via offerings received from CRC Churches to date.
2025 - Thursday 25 July
2024 - Thursday 24 July
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2023
Prayer Points
From Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
Under the heading of leadership challenges - the challenges that many leaders are personally facing in relation to how to transition into a younger generation of leadership.
The challenges leadership are facing in how to care for their people in a hostile environment of anti-Christian and economic hardship.
The need for a genuine move of God (revival) in the terms of transformed lives who are passionate about pioneering and leaving a legacy for future generations.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
Praying for the fulfilment of our International Vision.
The expansion of CRC into further nations. In round terms we have at least 100 nations to reach in the next 22 years (5 nations per year). We could easily achieve this by:
50 existing CRC Churches opening another nation every 10 years.
25 existing CRC Churches opening another nation every 5 years.
10 existing CRC Churches opening another nation every 2 years.
1 existing CRC Church opening another 5 nations per year.
What will your church do?
The depth of the work in all the existing nations that CRC is involved in with people being born again, leaders trained, churches planted and many demonstrations of the supernatural power of God.
The strengthening of all CRC leaders in each nation that they may be refreshed and have increased revelation of the power of the risen Christ in them, so that they may powerfully and boldly declare the good news of Jesus together with great signs and wonders.
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
Pray the new CRC nations of East Africa and Ghana in West Africa will be greatly strengthened over the next 12 months by our CRC vision, values and teaching distinctives. Pray their influence will facilitate New Testament revival and rapid spiritual expansion and facilitate the establishment of the CRC into other nations on the vast African continent.
Pray for the success of the new proposed initiative by the National Executive Council (NEC) in PNG of a week-long School of the Teacher for 2024 and subsequent years. Pray that all the lead pastors of our 500 plus churches and outreaches will be greatly upskilled theologically and provided with excellent Biblical resources.
Pray that every CRC Church and ordained pastor in Australia will get personally involved in a meaningful way to contribute into another nation across the earth. Pray that our financial giving will increase and that many teams will go and minister into the nations and people groups we are reaching into.
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2022
Pastors throughout the CRC are encouraged to arrange practical avenues to make concentrated prayer for our whole movement for the items listed below. This may be focusing your normal prayer meetings for this time, it may be arranging extra special prayer times, or using the opportunities in small groups or other avenues to encourage prayer.
Prayer Points
From Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
A healing and restorative move in the lives of all of God’s people addressing those things that may have affected people’s lives because of the long periods of disruption and restrictiveness (lock downs) from the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been huge in the developing nations.
A renewal of the spirit of evangelism and passion to engage in presenting the simple message of the gospel to people in our immediate communities and our own nation; a return to personal one to one evangelism and outreach.
To be bolder in finding ways to embrace, accommodate and overcome the financial and physical obstacles that might be in the way of the present wave of hungry persons pressing at our doors to be better equipped and trained for service for Christ. To find a way.
A bold challenge to all our churches and individuals to "keep on loving", regardless of the setbacks and disappointments - never stop loving - keep loving people and loving God - that’s the key to "keep on keeping on".
A new refreshing from the Spirit in the lives of all of God's people with a passion to present Christ beyond - those restrictive images and boundaries that may have appeared over the past two years of imposed restrictions.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
Releasing people from fear related to COVID-19, the harsh lockdowns, and the push for anti-Christian laws in many countries, so that they will rise in confident faith and trusting God. People to be secure in the fact that they are loved by God and as a result that perfect love will cast out all fear.
People young and old, will rise with passion to train and be actively involved in serving God – winning people to Christ and planting dynamic self-multiplying churches.
Training facilities to be prepared for a wave of new people wanting to be trained for effective ministry.
A genuine revival awakening across our world that will draw many people to wholeheartedly commit their lives to follow and obey Jesus.
New countries to open up to the CRC to be established there, thus working toward our International vision of a Presence in Every Nation by 2045.
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
For all our National Chairmen and the Lead Pastors of all CRC Churches.
That the Holy Spirit will guide them as they prayerfully process the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the spiritual condition of their congregations.
And that the Holy Spirit will equip them to prophetically minister God’s Word to counteract any faith limiting and growth restricting mindsets that may have settled on their people over the past two years.
For all our CRC people to be encouraged to step up their personal witnessing about Jesus.
That the Lord will help them realise that individuals and communities are now more open to spiritual realities.
That they will see that their neighbours are searching for life’s true meaning due to the shaking effects of war, civil strife, government corruption, economic pressures and fear of COVID-19.
For all CRC National Movements to step up their strategy of outreaching into new areas in their nations and to plant more Churches.
That each nation will take some concrete faith steps over the next 12 months to reach out with apostolic fervency and anointing into another nation.
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2021
SUGGeSTIONS
A special extra day of prayer for CRC Churches International.
Give the prayers points to your small group leaders to be used in your small groups around Thursday 22 July.
Give the prayer points to your intercessors group.
Include a special time of prayer in your Sunday service.
Whatever other option that will fit into your local scene.
Prayer Points
From Pr Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
Spiritual and Mental Health
Pray for the daily burden faced by our personnel in the nations in regards to the spiritual and mental health of our people, staff, students and congregations. Continued prayer is needed for the long ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - lockdowns and the constant disruptions to normal life creating such uncertainty, tiredness and fatigue in them and the communities in which they reside. Prayer is also needed for our personnel in Australia.
Safety and Protection
Pray for our workers, families and communities in those developing nations who are facing instability - politically and medically - and that there will be no outbreak of COVID-19 in their villages, communities, churches and training schools.
Our Overseas Missionaries
Pray for our missionaries who are locked down and cannot return home because of travel restrictions - some have not had furlough leave for 3 to 5 years.
Physical Health
Pray for the physical health of our workers on the fields who are struggling with all kinds of viruses resulting from the changing weather patterns and seasons (i.e. cold, rain, floods, cyclones etc). Some of our workers have needed major surgery.
For God to Move Amongst All of Us
Pray for a spiritual awakening in all of our hearts that we will experience the powerful victory effects of Calvary manifested in our lives causing break outs into new and exciting things that are being created and birthed in His Kingdom. Pray for the tiredness and compassion fatigue often experienced when under pressure and during long periods of uncertainty. Pray for the invigoration power of His Spirit in our daily lives.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
In many developing nations our brothers and sisters are suffering a great deal due to COVID-19 and the strict, harsh lockdowns that are being imposed. Pray for the believers to be strengthened, uplifted and for God’s miraculous intervention on their behalf.
Pray for our CRC Churches around the world to not despair, but to see the opportunities to advance the Gospel in the changing world circumstances that we are facing.
Pray for our churches everywhere to open their eyes and see the extent of the mission field on their doorstep. In the cities, and most towns, in Australia there are now great opportunities for cross-cultural ministry, including evangelism.
Pray for the people in our churches (us) to have our eyes opened to see the changes we need to make to engage with people from other cultures.
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
For every CRC Church to contribute towards the completion of the financing of the Colombo Project by the end of 2021. Our goal is to raise the final $130,000.
For every CRC Church to change their paradigm to see the possibility of facilitating the release of a missionary into an overseas nation.
For every CRC Church to engage with the Pathway to Missions initiative being coordinated by Pr Jeremy Steel.
That every CRC Church be connected to at least one overseas nation through an ongoing mission/ministry engagement.
That every CRC Church ideally takes up a missions offering monthly and devotes around 10-15 minutes of that service to inform, inspire and pray about a CRC mission field.
RESOURCES
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2020
Message from our AUSTRALIAN missions director
Dear Pastor,
Our CRC National Day of Prayer and Fasting on Thursday 23 July is fast approaching.
We encourage each church to make a special focus on prayer and fasting for our CRC ministry in both Australia and the nations.
Below are a series of prayer points from Pr Barry Silverback as International Mission Director, Pr Bill Vasilakis as Australian National Chairman, and myself as Australian Mission Director.
Please arrange for a special prayer focus on Thursday 23 July, or on a date practical for you, as close as possible to this date. Last year I found getting the prayer points out to our small groups gave a better involvement than an extra night for prayer. Do what gets the best result in your scene!
Please click here for the resources for our National Missions Day on Sunday 26 July.
Yours on the mission of God,
Pr Mike Cronin
Prayer Points
From Pr Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
That our heavenly Father would make a way for cessation of this coronavirus and for unnecessary deaths to stop.
That all our pastors, leaders, missionaries, staff workers will not suffer any lasting emotional and psychological stress as a result of prolonged isolation.
That the miraculous work of God will continue throughout this coronavirus lockdown, bringing men and women to salvation, deliverance and healing; so that after COVID-19 there will be an emerging new wave of evangelisation and revival amongst God’s people.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
Stand together to support our brothers and sisters in our churches in Australia and overseas to positively take hold of the promise that, ‘if God be for us, nothing can be against us’. That no matter how challenging our circumstances may be, God is still on the throne and He will never leave us nor forsake us; He will enable us to be more than conquerors.
That churches around the globe will emerge from this time of lockdown as a powerful force with expanded vision and concepts for a mighty global spiritual awakening.
Effective outreach to various ethnic groups in Australia. That our churches reflect the cultural diversity in our respective areas and that God give us connection points to reach across the dividing walls, particularly to people of different religious backgrounds.
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
That our CRC Movement seize the opportunity COVID-19 has created to use modern media platforms to extend Jesus’ kingdom across the earth.
That our movement’s 75th Birthday Conference (28th September - 1st October, 2020) in Adelaide, powerfully impacts every nation where the CRC is located.
That our new CRC Ministry Training and Missionary Facilitating initiatives cause many young people to receive the call from Jesus into service.
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2019
Prayer Points
From Pr Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
The strengthening spiritually, emotionally and physically of all our pastors, missionaries, teachers, children’s home careers and workers, along with their wives and children. Many are under spiritual attack and struggling in these areas (a renewing morale).
For a fresh new wave of a spirit of evangelism and a fervent passion for the lost to re-visit our churches and training programs and our youth, moving them afresh from passivity to purposeful affirmative action. This is critically needed everywhere.
Discernment and wisdom in leaders to be able to see ahead, beyond the obvious and to be able to forewarn, give clear direction, protect and preserve the flock of God. For all who are responsible for strategising, planning and making decisions which affects the lives of hundreds of others.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
Pray for our eyes to be opened to see the amazing opportunities God has given us by bringing the world to our door in Australia, and for us to make the necessary adjustments to welcome these people into our churches and to relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray for the country/countries your church is involved in for a great expansion of the Gospel. Lift up the pastors and leaders in these nations that they may fully preach the Gospel by what is said and done, by the power of signs and wonders (Romans 15: 18-19) so that we see a global expansion of the supernatural power of God.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest fields (Luke 10:2).
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
That Jesus will light a fire in the hearts of our people and all of our CRC Churches for a ‘Holy Spirit led’ book of Acts approach to every believer evangelism and church planting.
That Jesus will give us his passion and burden for the entire earth and help us to see and feel with the Holy Spirit’s compassion, ‘that if our vision does not encompass the whole world then it is too small’.
That Jesus will empower us and our local churches through the Holy Spirit’s presence, to personally and strategically share His Good News into our immediate local neighbourhoods and regions; as well as across Australia and in particular nations and people groups the Holy Spirit is guiding us to reach.
That Jesus will open our eyes to see the Holy Spirit doors that He is opening in many nations through the immigrant and refugee peoples He is bringing into our Australian churches.
That dozens of our churches and hundreds of our people will be moved to pray, give, plan and go to the nations their local churches are investing in during our 2021 Global Action Initiative.
National Day of Prayer and Fasting 2018
Prayer Points
From Pr Barry Silverback
International Missions Director
That the church at home and abroad rise aggressively and forcefully to pray purposefully, persistently and persuasively on behalf of God’s leaders, His people and His work in the nations because we are under spiritual attack both from without and within. We are in spiritual warfare and need to enforce Christ’s victory.
From Pr Mike Cronin
Australian Missions Director
The church to stand firm on Biblical values and reject the self indulgent secularism that is pervading our society. The church rise as the blessed people to be the blessing of God to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3).
From Pr Bill Vasilakis
Australian National Chairman
That a burden of prayer will grip our CRC churches for our needy nation of Australia, and that a passion for evangelism will grow in our people to share their faith and lead their lost loved ones and friends to Jesus.
That our CRC Movement will be greatly encouraged and empowered to better fulfill its spiritual vision through our Effective Leaders/Effective Churches Pastors & Leaders National Conference this October. Pray especially for many to receive Jesus’ call to full time ministry and missionary service.
That our CRC 2018-2023 Australian Strategic Directions being released at the October Conference will help all our ministers and churches to better work together to accomplish our collective growth plans and faith goals. Pray especially that the CRC will plant new churches that will impact their communities.